Druzzi from ‘The Rapture’ – We are Electric Wed 2 July @ Cabaret Voltaire

‘We are Electric’ continues in its quest in fuelling new and exciting dj’s for the Edinburgh populous. Next month welcomes multi-instrumentalist Druzzi from New York band The Rapture to play a DJ set. Famous for blending shades of acid disco with catchy indie-pop, Druzzi comes with a reputation of mixing anything from trance classics to nu-rave crowd pleasers. Druzzi has been keeping himself busy with a recent monthly residency at Shoreditch’s top club ‘T Bar’, not to mention the four year old ‘Druzzis Baltimore Rave Club’ which has seen the likes of 2manydj’s, Erol Alkan and Optimo through its doors. Sure to be a ruckus of an evening, head on down and pull some shapes.

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Image from Cabaret Voltaire

Marc Stage – Blush

Marc Stage has teamed up with new label iO Music to create his first production. Playing his residency at top German night Rock Inc, famous for championing the tech sound, it’s a bit unusual that we haven’t heard more from him. ‘Blush’ covers all the elements needed for a dance floor belter; an infectious riff given meat by a brooding electro tinged bass line. Stage’s flavour takes root from his fatherland, giving a wink to Berlin. The new track has turned heads around Europe, with Paul Oakenfold set to give his version soon. Re-rubs on the EP come from iO music’s Juergens and Martin Heyder. Juergens take grips the attention most, with some funky drum patterns to liven up the original. It’s a taster of what’s to come, and so far, it’s sweet.

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Image from Marc Stage – MySpace

Mark Henning – Jupiter Jive

This one might take a couple listens to get into, even for those who do cream themselves for a bit of minimal. Jupiter Jive disappoints from its failure to recognise what its for; too fast to be classed as tech-ambient and too slow to be an out-an-out club album. A stand out track is hard to pick on the first listen. It’s well produced, and Henning uses some interesting ‘smoke-esque’ reverse delay samples. After a brief opening rant Alamaha913 starts it off with some swing-time tech house, the album then progresses through one trippy affair after another. Some hit some miss; the end of the album builds into a darker affair. Stash is eery, makes the room feel dark like a dirty minimal cave, also benefiting from a stonker of a breakdown. Tracks like moody bastard and I lost my brain at winchout spun 3-4 bpm faster have enough freaky funk to keep a floor moving. It’ll suit Soma fans that like to keep their sets on the minimal house side out things.

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Image from Mark Henning – MySpace

This week…

It’s that discernible time of year; Student’s lounging around, suitably impressed with themselves about finishing that arduous dissertation that ‘took over a weeks research’. The May sun glows like a beacon, lifting our hopes for a summer worth being in Scotland. And all those that fit into the ‘key demographic’ (that is, us 18-30’s) will be looking for things to reward ourselves with.

This week has enough talent to justify any electronica fan. A solid built-up before the festival months of June, July and August. Edinburgh’s Polish contingent have put together ‘Minimalism’ at the Bongo Club on Thursday. DJ’s include Pagowsky, Adam O and headliner Siasia. Siasia is fast becoming Poland’s major techno export, his past concentrations have taken him across eastern Europe. Now he’s taken time to gig in Edinburgh. This being his only tour date west of the Czech Republic for the foreseeable future.

Friday has a corker for anyone who loves a party, not club, atmosphere. ‘Club for Heroes’ at the Wee Red Bar, invites weegie dance floor specialist Hushpuppy to take the controls for a night. House, techno, electro and overall disco typify these affairs, the ‘bar’ (barely) size makes it a firm favourite for those who lust for a bit of intimacy with their DJ’s.

Onwards and upwards. The weekend also has some high-fliers across the city. ‘Sugarbeat’ at Cabaret Voltaire will be chopping up beats from here, there and everywhere to borrow the old cliche. Recently ranked no.1 breaks DJ’s in the world (Breakspool.com), the Stanton Warriors are sure to be well received. The two London boys are currently keeping an impressive dj-ing schedule, which takes them across Europe and includes Global gathering, Glade, and Glastonbury. Be sure to not miss, they won’t be back up north until August.

If the Warriors have run out of tickets (not unlikely), and its a hearty dance your after, Friday also has ‘Xplicit’ to wet your  appetite. Edinburgh’s Drum’n'breaks scene has been indebted to Xplicit for many years, each month they provide artists such as Pendulum, DJ Fresh, Grooverider and Fabio to name drop a few. But this week its the residents who will be ripping up records, slicing up samples and laying down some phat (with a ph) beats for Edinburgh to dutifully cut dance floor shapes to.

And finally, JD Twitch and JG Wilkes are back once more just to prove they don’t have a weegie bias. In fact, since the move to Cabaret Voltaire last month, ‘Optimo’ is set to keep Edinburgh as a monthly date. Optimo typifies cross-genre mixing; rock flows from techno, which flows from pop to electro into dubstep into breaks into ska into… you get the point. It’s this diversity that keeps the night so popular, and this saturday will be no exception.

This week’s top tip – Stanton Warriors @ Cabaret Voltaire.

Images – MySpace.com, KDY-side.com, Optimo.co.uk.

Let’s Go Outside (Remixes) – Girls Don’t Like Me

Remixes of ‘girls don’t like me’ come from Soma new boy Mr Copy as well as Edit Select and Mark Broom. Mr Copy provides a minimalist take on things with less emphasis on bass, more on a build-up of sharp toned harmonics. More variety might have helped Edit Select’s six and a half minutes of mediocrity. On the other hand, Mark Broom’s mix is absolutely damaging. Using every trick in the techno handbook, Broom’s take satisfies both rhythmic and melodic needs. The hook will carve itself into your head and its skillful breakdowns make this by far the most engaging track. As a whole it’s what we expect from Soma, good quality techno – west coast style.

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Image from Soma – MySpace

Jakn @ Studio 24. Friday 27th June.

“Techno. In all its forms” is the mantra for the Jakn bunch. The residents’ (Fuk-Nut aka Milkovic and Sekonzaka Dirkatron ) take a back seat this month, letting local boysThe Apprentice, Danny Wilson and Edin-Tek show off their skills on the lap-decks . These three young producers hover on the hard (and even harder) side of techno; ear numbing synths, industrial noise and vigorous tempos are sure to whip up the crowd into a suitable frenzy. The three year old club night has a loyal troop of supporters to judge the new talent. Drink promo’s all night. Free CD at the door. Expect a ringing sound in your ear for a couple days after.

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Image from Jakn – MySpace

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Harvey Mckay – Output EP

Yet again Glasgow is the birthplace for another techno feast. Harvey Mckay’s Output EP encapsulates the Soma sound, stripped down beats that’ll resonate through any bass heavy system. Output is a brew of rumbling lows, pitched basslines and effective delay patterns. Perfect for any sweaty underground occasion. Flipping the vinyl, Xiphoid is an agitato of continual percussion augmented with high-key midi synths. McKay keeps his tracks layered, making a textured sound that instinctively draws the head to keep nodding. Sure to make tech-enthusiasts raise a hand in appreciation, Soma has found an undoubted new talent. Luckily for us, he’s got an album on the way too.

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Image from Harvey Mckay – MySpace

this week…

Scottish musicians are congregating in Edinburgh this week. ‘T Break’ is being held from Sunday to Wednesday at the Bongo Club, with the winner of this 4 day band-off bagging the last T in the Park booking. The annual fisticuffs for recognition and back stage passes is upon us. Good luck to the winner.

Its also a big week for the unsigned talent of Edinburgh’s Universities. Napier University’s music department showcases its next generation of budding musicians with a night of original music at the Bongo Club on Thursday. The Edinburgh College of Art key production of the year is on Wednesday and Friday. The ECA fashion show highlights many of the artistic talents fostered at the school, from fashion design to theatrical bits -with a hybrid of tunes to match the occasion. A cultural landmark for anyone wanting to see the artistic expression of Edinburgh’s youth.

After leaving the art bonanza at 10pm, you’ll of course be faced with two choices: Hard House or Dirty House. First of all, club Ego plays its part as ‘Nuklear Puppy’ hosts another night of endless bass pounding. Headlining this hard house affair is Frankfurter Frank Zenker aka Scot Project. No stranger to the big club scene, Scot Project has accomplished most mainline festivals including Gatecrasher and Global Gathering – he’s sure to please each and every one of the Kappa sponsored crowd that Ego regularly attracts. Cabaret Voltaire on the other hand has King Unique (good name!) they’re here to launch ‘Renaissance’. Not only that but Neil Bartley (Afterdark), Nick Yuill (Solescience) and Euan Mckensie (Renaissance) will be keeping that crowd gagging for ‘one more tune’. ‘Renaissance’ has taken its parties to 25 countries worldwide but this, their first night on Scottish soil.

The capital sees another launch this Saturday. Audiablo records makes its debut at Cabaret Voltaire’s ‘Karnival’ night. The new electronic label will promote the cream of Edinburgh’s DJ community including Mark Price (Taste/Fever) and Ricky Paly (Beatroot). Other label artists Iain Gibson (Tokoyo Blu), Ryan Ellis (Karnival/Stereotype) and Bruno F:K (Tweek) will provide the warm-up for a night of tech-house based bangers. At only £5 entry, this is sure to become a prominent feature in Edinburgh’s electronic calendar.

‘Musika’ have managed to bag a big juicy treat on Saturday night. Back after their canceled gig in March, House luminaries Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso are hitting the decks – imparting some Swedish wisdom upon the Liquid Room. The pair are stopping off in Edinburgh as part of their gigantic four month world tour that takes them through Ministry of Sound, Pacha, Gatecrasher and Cream to name but a few. Both continue to make great floor rumbling records including Angello’s new remix of Hard Fi’s Suburban Knights. Check it out on his Myspace. This week’s all rounder – Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso @ The Liquid Room.

Image from sara@jerkalert.wordpress.com

this week…

Perk up those lugs of yours, this week there’s plenty to choose from. This weekend sees the Triptych festival across Scotland, with a wide array of talent from across the musical spectrum including renowned hip-hop producer The RZA under the new alter ego aka Bobby Digital. Other musical treats, cut from a non-electronic slice of pie, include soul man Jamie Lidell and Edwyn Collins got his chance to meet ‘another girl like you before’ on Monday. Destiny is calling Mancunian chart toppers James to the Corn Exchange on Friday. So all in all, a nae bad week in Edinburgh.

image from Breakspoll.com

But back to the electronic stuff. As part of Triptych’s superb weekend line-up, Radio one’s ‘Queen of Breaks’ Annie Nightingale will be introducing ‘Sugarbeat’ at Cabaret Voltaire this Friday. Her weekly broadcast has recently won the 2008 Breakspoll’s Best radio show award. She’s supported by none other than Krafty Kuts. Krafty has been voted International Breakspoll Best DJ three times from 2003 to 2006, also winning best Breaks DJ at the recent M8 awards in Ibiza and has been booked solid ever since. Producing partner A. Skillz will be providing just that to round off one ‘hell-of-ann’ amazing night for any breakbeat lover.

Dumfermline five piece Underling are teaming up with Saturday Night Fish Fry at the Jazz bar on Saturday. If your open to new styles of music and musicians, you must go see Underling! The local boys create a sound of jazz, swing, one man raps, one man scratches; it’s certainly a band with cross-genre idea’s. Watch out for the new album coming out soon. And for god’s sake, go see them play!

The Stereotype posse have outdone themselves this month. Bringing the dance floor to their feet will be Dutch House star DJ Rene Amesz. His radio one essential mix was voted in the top 5 sets for 2007, and Saturday will be his first time in Edinburgh . Berlin Bierhaus is the venue and its sure to be a glow stick free for all.

If it’s a little light relief your after, and a feel for the Caribbean, then Jah Shaka might be right up your street. The Zulu Warrior will be taking the late slot at the Bongo Club for a four hour session of sweet reggae vibes.

And last, but of course not least, Optimo return to the capital. Hosted by veteran Glasgow DJs JD Twitch and JG Wilkes, these guys have influenced the Scottish electronic landscape for years. As ever, I can’t tell you what to expect as it’s always a different experience. But it will be an eclectic mix of tunes, last time they finished their set with a metal number. Always good, always well mixed, and always something different. Could anyone ask for more? This week’s top tip – Optimo @ Cabaret Voltaire.